Alyson Dunlop

In the days of ‘mesmerism’ (before the term ‘hypnotism’ was coined), hypnosis was already being used for anaesthesia!  In fact, the mesmerists would simply put the patient into a deep trance and omit further suggestions.

When people are anxious, stressed or depressed they may be more sensitive to feeling pain.  When we are distracted from pain, our pain threshold changes, which proves that we do have the ability to control and manage it.  In hypnotherapy, pain relief can be achieved in a number of ways which will be demonstrated at this workshop.

Consistent and on-going illness often gets people depressed, stressed and anxious.  On top of illness, these are emotions that we can well do without.  As well as feeling mentally worse, it is likely that the person will also feel physically worse. They may dwell on certain body sensations and start to suffer from hypochondria.  They may tense up the area of the body that is affected, or other areas, thereby causing even more pain.

It may be that the illness is long-term, even incurable.  Of course this will lead to feelings of sadness, depression and anxiety.  However, it is up to you how to cope and deal with your illness.  Hypnotherapy is invaluable in the many ways it can make us feel more accepting and positive when we are faced with difficult and life-threatening diseases.  In fact, this positive attitude can determine whether the rest of our life has quality or not.

One of the worst things, in my humble opinion, that a doctor can do is to give a time limit to a patient.  By doing so, the person inevitably begins the “Countdown to Death”.   We are so much more in control of our destiny than we realise. The mind is a very powerful tool, and can be put to exceptional use, during times of mental and physical crisis.

If you are suffering from illness or pain, come along to the workshop.  Experience the powers of mind over matter for yourself.

Please contact me to book your place: alysondunlop@achilleshealing.co.uk or phone/text 07852 575 184

“Mindfulness”

Sometimes life is just too stressful to stop and smell the roses…  Our modern way of living, without taking the time or effort to enjoy our surroundings, has caused us to forget about many of the good things in life.  In fact, we’re so busy being anxious and stressed that we don’t realise there is a different, more appealing, way to see the world.

This week we will be discussing, and practising, awareness.  I will talk you through some contrasting experiences in order to heighten your senses to the differences in which you may perceive the world.  By doing so, you will begin to recognise what is missing & what you need to do in order to feel better and more positive.

This isn’t necessarily aimed at people who have a particular cause to feel stressed.  Many people don’t know why they have a tendency walk around with a frown.  They just know that something is missing in their life.  By becoming aware of the world you live in, you will begin to realise that everything you do has an effect, both positive and negative, on your state of mind.

By becoming self-aware we can have a better relationship with the food that nourishes us, family & friends, ourselves and the world around us.  We can learn to distinguish between thoughts and facts, realising that our way of thinking could be false, irrational and working against us.

If you would like to experience the world from a different, better, perspective then the Mindfulness workshop is definitely for you.

£10 per person.  Spaces are limited so please book in advance.

Positive Psychology

This will stop you from getting out of bed in the morning, feeding yourself properly, going to work, taking care of yourself and others. It will also tell you that you’re worthless, useless, fat and ugly. It will trick you into believing that everyone hates you. It will keep you awake throughout the night, so that you become completely dysfunctional and at its mercy. It will make you shake with fear and dread when that special someone you like says ‘hi’.
What will you do? Reach for a bottle, or another cigarette perhaps? Another bar of chocolate?
Is being alone easier? That’s what the enemy would like you to think.
What you need is a hero…

Achilles’ New Army

It’s a modern world and we fight different battles in this day and age. Negative Thinking, with its army of anger, revenge, hate, misery, jealousy and fear, are our enemies. They stop us from functioning as normal, happy human beings. They cause us more pain and anxiety. They are the source of depression and illness. These enemies have taken over our world. Achilles has, at last, returned to the battlefield and he fights with a different army:

Hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy is the right place to start if you want to change your thinking. The mind is the foundation of all that we are and all that we do. If your mind is not healthy, there is a knock on effect in all other areas of your life. With hypnotherapy there is an instant freedom from worry, anxiety, panic and many other negative emotions that drag us down and stop us from being the people we actually want to be. In addition to making you feel more positive and confident, hypnotherapy can also help you make major improvements in your life. It can help you lose weight and stop smoking. You will look better and feel better.
To find out more about what hypnotherapy can do for you see: www.achilleshealing.co.uk/hypnotherapy

Holistic Therapies

Reiki is a system of healing which taps into the universal life force energy. It can be used to reduce stress and enhance relaxation. It is thought that when energy is low we are more likely to get sick, but if it is high we are more capable of being healthy and happy.
Massage is a wonderful therapy for relaxation, but it can also aid a variety of health conditions. In combination with aromatherapy, it can be used to treat emotional disorders. When the oils are inhaled, positive emotional responses are triggered.
To see all therapies offered by Achilles Healing and Green Man Holistics in Glasgow: www.glasgowtherapies.com

Sunlight

We only tend to hear about how bad the sun is for us, but we all need sunlight. A lack of sunlight can cause depression and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). In Scotland, we are more likely to become depressed due to a lack of sun exposure. It is important to try to get out and about in natural light as much as you possibly can every day. Hail, rain or shine! This combines a little exercise with exposure to the sun’s rays (even if they are hiding behind clouds). If you’re depressed it might feel like an effort at first, but it’s a step in the right direction. Remember what the Chinese philosopher, Lao Tzu, taught us: The journey of a thousands miles begins with a single step.
Like other exercise regimes, you can build up your daily walk. Try just walking to the bottom of the road and back, or to the local shops. Try to build it up from 10 minutes to 1 hour.
See: http://www.naturalnews.com/003069.html

Exercise

A good soldier is fit and healthy. No depression is going to be defeated if you lie down to it and let it destroy you. Choose what suits you. Build up your strength a little at a time. Make it something you find enjoyable and fun. If you don’t like going to the gym or swimming, taking a dance class or martial arts are fun alternatives. A healthy body means a healthy mind. You need to release some of those ‘feel good’ hormones. One way to do that is through exercise.
When you’re feeling depressed, anxious and lacking in confidence it’s difficult to make that first step. Hypnotherapy can help with all these issues: www.achilleshealing.co.uk

Healthy Foods

Troy wasn’t taken by a nation who lived on cheeseburgers and chips! In fact, look at the amazing Mediterranean diet the Greeks do survive on. By getting the correct nutrition you will be doing your mind a huge favour. Stop eating foods that make you sluggish and ill. There is an amazing world out there, full of the most delicious foods provided by Mother Nature…not McDonalds! Small changes are all you need to make. Cut down on refined sugar. It’s an unnecessary evil. Switch to honey, with its gorgeous flavour and fabulous anti-bacterial properties. It really is a food from above. Fry less, and use olive oil in cooking. This isn’t rocket science. You know what’s healthy and what’s not. If you don’t, have a look here: http://www.food.gov.uk/healthiereating/
For weight loss hypnotherapy contact: alysondunlop@achilleshealing.co.uk

Healthy Drinking

Drink water. Plenty of it. 8-10 glasses a day.
Be careful with alcohol (and other depressants such as cannabis). They will relax you…but if you are already feeling somewhat depressed, they are not going to make you feel better. They are going to make you feel a lot worse. They might initially numb the emotional pain you feel, but they won’t make it go away. You’ll wake up with the same pain and reach for the same bottle. Before you know it someone will label you an alcoholic or a drug addict. The alcoholism or drug addiction will be the problem and not the original source of the emotional pain (or your method of dealing with all your worries and anxieties). Hypnotherapy can help with addictions too.
Some alcohol, such as wine, have health properties. When used in this way, a glass of wine a day might very well keep the doctor away! Just don’t use it to numb emotional pain.
If you need hypnotherapy for addictions contact: alysondunlop@achilleshealing.co.uk

Supplements

A lot has been written on the subject of supplements. Sometimes they are necessary, but check with your doctor first. Hopefully you are getting a balanced enough diet, but there may well be other reasons that you feel lethargic and down. An iron deficiency will leave you feeling tired and listless; Vitamin B deficiencies (there are several types of Vitamin B) can lead to depression and nervousness; low zinc levels can cause behavioural and sleep disturbances; magnesium deficiency can cause you to be tired, weak, depressed, anxious, nervous and have insomnia. For more details: http://www.vitaminsdeficiency.org/

Balance

This is what you’re really striving for. A balanced way of being. A balanced diet, a balanced exercise plan, a balanced mind. Techniques such as yoga, meditation and hypnotherapy are wonderful for calming down the mind and taking us to a more balanced existence. Once there, we can really reach our full potential.
Whatever the problem is, whatever is holding you back, there is a way forward. There is an alternative and better way of existing. Don’t let negative thinking control you and your life. Hypnotherapy will help you to take control again, start living a normal life, be with friends and loved ones, give you the motivation to find the path that is right for you and cope with everything that life throws at you.

Alyson Dunlop

NCH Video Interview About Hypnotherapy

Achilles Thniskon (Wounded), Corfu

“Achilles” means akhos “grief” and Laos “a people, tribe or nation”. The name is an embodiment of the grief of the people. In Homers’ epic poem, the Iliad, Achilles is the hero of grief and the hero of glory, usually in war. The poem is, partly, about the misdirection of anger on the part of leadership.

The heroic cult of Achilles was widespread on Leuke Island (Snake/Serpent Island, later known as Alba). The island is in the Black Sea off the coast of Romania and Ukraine. Leuke was also famous as a place of healing, attributed to the waters of the island.

Achilles was invulnerable, except for his heel. Since he died of an arrow shot into that part of his body, the Achilles’ heel has come to mean a person’s principle weakness.

The story of Achilles ought to be an inspiration to those looking for a way forward in life, and to those looking for a better way to exist. The hero shows us the destruction we can cause to ourselves and our relationships by allowing our emotions to rule us and our bodies. He shows us the ultimate price we may pay.

Every single human being has a vulnerability, but they also possess the qualities to control it and to heal themselves. The first step in doing that is to pick up the phone and make an appointment at Achilles Healing. Do it today and make a positive change in your life.